Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: the Church of England, Pope Francis, Lebanon, the Rohingya, interfaith coffee in Uganda, and Jerusalem.
BERKLEY CENTER IN THE NEWS
Q&A Karen Armstrong’s Thinking Shifts on Religion and Violence
by Paul Elie
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-karen-armstrong-20141116-story.html#page=1
Paul Elie interviews Karen Armstrong on her new book Fields of Blood and the relationship between religion and violence.
AROUND THE WORLD
Church of England Approves Plan Allowing Female Bishops
by Katrin Bennhold
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/world/europe/church-of-england-approves-plan-allowing-female-bisho...
The Church of England overturned centuries of tradition on Monday with a final vote allowing women to become bishops, with the first appointments possible by Christmas.
Pope Francis Challenges the Faithful
by Michael Gerson
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/michael-gerson-pope-francis-challenges-the-faithful/2014/11/1...
Perhaps Francis is destined to be a divisive force within his church and an inspiration outside it (a theory that may be tested during his upcoming US visit). But I am inclined to defend his influence with all the zeal of a non-convert. While popes may or may not be infallible, this one is marvelously wise and human.
Beirut’s Center Cannot Hold
by Hussein Kalout
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/142360/hussein-kalout/beiruts-center-cannot-hold
Lebanon is again on the precipice of civil war. With the conflict in neighboring Syria spilling over its borders, Lebanese society finds itself bitterly divided between two distinct camps—one that backs the regional Sunni alliance led by Saudi Arabia and supported by the West, another that supports the alliance between Iran and the Syrian government.
As Fears Rise in Myanmar, Rohingya Exodus Grows
by Esther Htusan
Associated Press
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/17/myanmar-rohingya_n_6171240.html?utm_hp_ref=religion&ir=Reli...
Bouts of vicious violence, together with discriminatory government policies, have sent an estimated 100,000 Rohingya fleeing this Buddhist-majority nation by boat in the last two years, according to the Arakan Project, a human-rights group that monitors the Rohingya.
In Uganda, Coffee Co-op Blends Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Farmers
by Melanie Lidman
Times of Israel
http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-uganda-coffee-co-op-blends-jewish-muslim-and-christian-farmers/
The Mbale region hosts a cooperative of 2,000 Jewish, Christian, and Muslim coffee farmers who grow coffee called “Mirembe Kawomera,” which translates as “Delicious Peace” in the local language of Luganda.
JERUSALEM
What You Need to Know About the Attack on the Jerusalem Synagogue
by Swati Sharma
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/11/18/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-attack-...
Two men attacked a synagogue in a Jerusalem neighborhood early Tuesday, resulting in the death of four worshippers and the wounding of several others before the police killed them.
Timeline: Rising Violence in Jerusalem Ahead of Synagogue Attack
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/18/us-mideast-palestinians-israel-timeline-idUSKCN0J21G820141...
Over the past several weeks, tension and violence have risen steadily in Jerusalem, culminating in Tuesday's attack on a synagogue in which four worshippers were shot and knifed to death by Palestinians assailants.
The Trouble at Temple Mount
Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/11/economist-explains-13
The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is one of the world’s most explosive bits of real-estate. It has started to rumble again in recent weeks, with demands by Jewish militants to extend prayer rights, riots by Palestinians and the killing of several Israelis in knife or car-ramming attacks.
DOMESTIC
Pope Francis Confirms US Visit for Next Year
by Jim Yardley and Dan Bilefsky
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/world/europe/pope-francis-will-visit-united-states-next-year-archb...
Pope Francis confirmed Monday that he will make his first papal visit to the United States in September to attend an international meeting in Philadelphia on the theme of family, as part of an American journey that is also expected to include a stop in New York.
Q&A Karen Armstrong’s Thinking Shifts on Religion and Violence
by Paul Elie
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-karen-armstrong-20141116-story.html#page=1
Paul Elie interviews Karen Armstrong on her new book Fields of Blood and the relationship between religion and violence.
AROUND THE WORLD
Church of England Approves Plan Allowing Female Bishops
by Katrin Bennhold
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/world/europe/church-of-england-approves-plan-allowing-female-bisho...
The Church of England overturned centuries of tradition on Monday with a final vote allowing women to become bishops, with the first appointments possible by Christmas.
Pope Francis Challenges the Faithful
by Michael Gerson
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/michael-gerson-pope-francis-challenges-the-faithful/2014/11/1...
Perhaps Francis is destined to be a divisive force within his church and an inspiration outside it (a theory that may be tested during his upcoming US visit). But I am inclined to defend his influence with all the zeal of a non-convert. While popes may or may not be infallible, this one is marvelously wise and human.
Beirut’s Center Cannot Hold
by Hussein Kalout
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/142360/hussein-kalout/beiruts-center-cannot-hold
Lebanon is again on the precipice of civil war. With the conflict in neighboring Syria spilling over its borders, Lebanese society finds itself bitterly divided between two distinct camps—one that backs the regional Sunni alliance led by Saudi Arabia and supported by the West, another that supports the alliance between Iran and the Syrian government.
As Fears Rise in Myanmar, Rohingya Exodus Grows
by Esther Htusan
Associated Press
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/17/myanmar-rohingya_n_6171240.html?utm_hp_ref=religion&ir=Reli...
Bouts of vicious violence, together with discriminatory government policies, have sent an estimated 100,000 Rohingya fleeing this Buddhist-majority nation by boat in the last two years, according to the Arakan Project, a human-rights group that monitors the Rohingya.
In Uganda, Coffee Co-op Blends Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Farmers
by Melanie Lidman
Times of Israel
http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-uganda-coffee-co-op-blends-jewish-muslim-and-christian-farmers/
The Mbale region hosts a cooperative of 2,000 Jewish, Christian, and Muslim coffee farmers who grow coffee called “Mirembe Kawomera,” which translates as “Delicious Peace” in the local language of Luganda.
JERUSALEM
What You Need to Know About the Attack on the Jerusalem Synagogue
by Swati Sharma
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/11/18/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-attack-...
Two men attacked a synagogue in a Jerusalem neighborhood early Tuesday, resulting in the death of four worshippers and the wounding of several others before the police killed them.
Timeline: Rising Violence in Jerusalem Ahead of Synagogue Attack
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/18/us-mideast-palestinians-israel-timeline-idUSKCN0J21G820141...
Over the past several weeks, tension and violence have risen steadily in Jerusalem, culminating in Tuesday's attack on a synagogue in which four worshippers were shot and knifed to death by Palestinians assailants.
The Trouble at Temple Mount
Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/11/economist-explains-13
The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is one of the world’s most explosive bits of real-estate. It has started to rumble again in recent weeks, with demands by Jewish militants to extend prayer rights, riots by Palestinians and the killing of several Israelis in knife or car-ramming attacks.
DOMESTIC
Pope Francis Confirms US Visit for Next Year
by Jim Yardley and Dan Bilefsky
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/world/europe/pope-francis-will-visit-united-states-next-year-archb...
Pope Francis confirmed Monday that he will make his first papal visit to the United States in September to attend an international meeting in Philadelphia on the theme of family, as part of an American journey that is also expected to include a stop in New York.
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